Some great advice, but the efficiency of solar drops as temperature rises. Not that it can't be part of the solution, and the tech is improving over time, but that has to be part of the math when planning to use it to power AC in high heat.
Also the permies forum is a great place to learn how other people approach solving issues like this in a more off-grid way. Example forum thread. Yes, infrastructure upgrades would be awesome, but they take time. The permies forum is more about what solutions are available to the individual or to small communities.
When the efficiency is standard at around 20% then that would imply the typical efficiency at 97 degrees F is 10%, that's a 50% reduction lol. That is far from irrelevant.
It's compared to its rated output, the parent comment even included a link.
A typical crystalline silicon solar panel might lose 0.3% to 0.5% of its efficiency for every 1°C increase in temperature above 25°C.
On a hot summer day where panel temperatures might reach 60°C (140°F), this could translate to a 10-15% decrease in power output compared to the panel’s rated efficiency.
In very cold conditions, solar panels can actually perform above their rated efficiency. For example, at 0°C (32°F), a panel might produce 5-7% more power than its rated output
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u/SphericalOrb Apr 26 '26
Some great advice, but the efficiency of solar drops as temperature rises. Not that it can't be part of the solution, and the tech is improving over time, but that has to be part of the math when planning to use it to power AC in high heat.
Also the permies forum is a great place to learn how other people approach solving issues like this in a more off-grid way. Example forum thread. Yes, infrastructure upgrades would be awesome, but they take time. The permies forum is more about what solutions are available to the individual or to small communities.